Members from Clydesdale based Scotia Taekwon-Do Club receive black belts

“For a high number of our students to get black belts was great,” said Scotia press officer Fiona Trainer.

“What made the gradings even more highly pressurised was the fact that we were competing under our own Taekwon-Do UK Association, instead of the less challenging GTUK Association.

“We changed because a lot of our instructors felt that the GTUK black belt grading was too easy, with people even standing around chatting amongst themselves after it had been done.

“But the gradings under the new body were much more militaristic.

“There was a panel of five judges, and a week went by before any of the students found out if they’d passed.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.